Throughout the scriptures, Israel is referred to as God’s people because of the covenant God made with them through Moses.

The term “MY PEOPLE” doesn’t always mean God’s true people in the sense of being faithful to Him. For example, in Isaiah 1:3 God says, “the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, MY PEOPLE doth not consider.”

In the very next verse, God says, “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward (v.4).

A few verses later, Isaiah says, “Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah” (v.9).

When God judged ancient Israel God said to Jeremiah, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me pleading for these people, I wouldn’t help them. Away with them! Get them out of my sight!” (Jeremiah 15:1).

God also said to Ezekiel regarding the expulsion the people from the land of Israel, “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God”…”Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate” (Ezekiel 14:14,16).

The distinction between the rebellious within the nation of Israel and the faithful remnant among them is detailed often throughout the scriptures.

In the Old Testament God did not destroy the nation of Israel completely even though they were often times a very rebellious nation and contrary to God. God remained faithful to them for the remnant’s sake – those who were His true servants within Israel.

I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. Thus saith the Lord, AS THE NEW WINE IS FOUND IN THE CLUSTER, AND ONE SAITH, DESTROY IT NOT; FOR A BLESSING IS IN IT: SO WILL I DO FOR MY SERVANTS’ SAKES, THAT I MAY NOT DESTROY THEM ALL. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there (Isaiah 65:1-9).

As a nation, they were God’s people because of the Mosaic Covenant, as individuals they were not all His people because they did not all serve Him from the heart. This is a foundation truth and the precedence for Paul’s statement in the New Testament; Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19).

In ancient Israel there was King Saul and there was his successor, King David. Saul was as much an Israelite as David was, but there was a big difference in the two. Saul did not have a heart to please God, and David was a man after God’s own heart. In the end, God rejected Saul from being King and He chose David and blessed him as the King of Israel.

There are many examples in scripture of both unrighteous Jews who did evil in the sight of God and righteous Jews who did well in the sight of God. There were those who were rejected and judged by God and those who were accepted and pleasing to Him.

In Matthew 13:17 Jesus said to his disciples, “many prophets and RIGHTEOUS men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them”.

On the other hand, we read in Matthew 23 how Jesus confronted the UNRIGHTEOUS Scribes and Pharisees with declarations of God’s judgment against them.

The Scribes and Pharisees were just as much “Jews in the flesh” as those righteous men whom Jesus referred to in Matthew 13, but there was a difference. Those mentioned in chapter 13 were righteous and those in chapter 23 were unrighteous and God made a distinction between them.

In John 1, Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him and Jesus said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile”! The Amplified Bible says, “Here is an Israelite indeed [a true descendant of Jacob], in whom there is no guile nor deceit nor falsehood nor duplicity” !

Yet in John 8 Jesus said to some Jews opposing Him, “you are of your father the devil” and in John 10 Jesus told some Jews “you are not My sheep” and “you are not of God”. Those Jews in John 8 and 10 were as much “Jews in the flesh” as Nathanael was, yet they were not praised as “true Jews” as Nathaniel was. Nathaniel was pure in heart and followed Jesus, those Jews in John 8 and 10 had hearts against Jesus.

Jesus made a distinction between Nathanael and them.

Clearly, if we would take into account the Biblical narrative, we would see examples like these over and over again. There were righteous Jews and unrighteous Jews and God always separated between the two and it was always those who were righteous and whose hearts were after God who were His true servants, His true people, and the true Israel in His sight.

In the Bible, Israel was not a race, they were a nation.

They were a nation which grew out of the descendants of Abraham which had Gentiles added to them. They were a physical type of the New Testament church which began with Jews and extents to the Gentiles. The difference between Old Testament Israel and New Testament Israel is one was a physical nation, the other is a spiritual nation.

In scripture, Gentiles were not “non Jews” as in not the physical descendants of Abraham. Instead, Gentiles were “non Jews” as in not a member of the “nation of Israel”. When Gentiles became citizens of the nation of Israel, they were said to have become Jews.

And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND BECAME JEWS; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them (Esther 8:17).

Have you ever stopped to consider how many people infiltrated the nation of Israel from the descendants of these Gentiles who became Jews in Esther 8:17? There are other examples of Gentiles who became Jews, even our Savior had Gentile ancestresses – Rahab and Ruth. Think how many others – literally thousands, maybe more – who were in the ancestral tree of Christ because of Rahab and Ruth, their Gentile ancestresses.

There are other examples but hopefully you get the point. Israel’s tree was rooted in Abraham but others who did not have Abraham’s DNA were grafted in with them.

Why is this important?

It is important because in modern Zionist theology, modern Israel is not a nation in the way that Israel in scripture was a nation. Israel in scripture was a nation consisting of Jews by descent and Jews by choice. Modern Zionism focuses on DNA or a race of people, rather than a nation of people.

It is to be regretted that many sincere people either don’t know this or they haven’t taken the time to think it through.

I read this quote from someone commenting about Israel: ”There is only a small part of the entire planet that the God of Israel refers to as “my land” and that is precisely where the State of Israel is situated.”

On the contrary, here is what the Bible says:

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. ~ Psalm 24:1

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. ~ Deuteronomy 10:14 

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof. ~ Psalm 50:10-12

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them. ~ Psalm 89:11

And the list goes on…

Now, with regards to the references in the Old Testament in which God refers to the land of Israel as “My land” (example Joel 3:3) there is a Biblical context.

In the Old Testament, God refers to the land of Israel as “My land” because it was sanctified by God as his dwelling place among men under the first covenant. The people of Israel were God’s covenant people (a nation of Jews with Gentiles who joined them). The land was given to them as their inheritance under that covenant. Jerusalem in Israel was appointed to be the holy city, the Temple in Jerusalem was to be the holy site within the holy city and the place where the God of Israel was worshipped.

This all changed with the announcement of the gospel for God’s people are no longer a physical nation in a small portion of land with a man-made Temple. God’s people are now living in every nation and God’s Spirit lives in their hearts by faith and they are His Temple (individually and corporately).

Abraham, the father of our faith was made the heir of the world (Romans 4:13) and the father of many nations (Genesis 12:3; 17:4; Galatians 3:8-9). Yet, he never inherited the land of Israel for himself (Acts 7:4-5). Neither did his descendants Isaac, and Jacob. Yet Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did live  as travelers in the land of promise.

Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:9-10

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob weren’t looking for a physical land, but a heavenly one and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:14). The land of Israel was the physical inheritance for the physical nation of Israel under a physical covenant that has been replaced by a New and better Covenant.

Jesus is the seed of Abraham through whom the promises made to Abraham have come to fruition. Jesus died and rose again so that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles (the nations of the world) so that all who believe in Jesus Christ may be justified by faith even as their father Abraham was justified by faith. Those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:29) and have their citizenship in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20)

The message of the Gospel isn’t “go back to the land of Israel.” It is “go into all the World!”

I find it very disheartening that literally millions of Christians have embraced a narrative about Israel that is contrary to the Gospel. Israel was chosen by God to be the nation through whom the Messiah, the Savior of the world, would come, and they will be held accountable to the Gospel.

Israel has been a rebellious nation against God throughout her history, yet any nation whom God would have chosen would have done the same because of sin. Through Israel, God exposed the sins of humanity, for in Adam “all humanity” – including Israel – is dead in sin and in need of redemption.

Paul tells us in Romans that whatsoever things the Law says it says to them that are under the Law (a reference to Israel under Moses) so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God ~ Romans 3:19

Israel under the Law was representative of humanity under sin. Israel’s story was a microcosm of the whole world and in the same way that only a remnant of Israel will ever be saved, so it is with the rest of humanity throughout history. The path to destruction is wide but the gate that leads to life is narrow and this applies to everyone, not the Jews only.

Through Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God has broken in on humanity, and all who repent and trust in Him will be saved! The Gospel is not simply “justification by faith,” though it includes justification by faith. The Gospel is more, for it is the announcement and demonstration of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, and it was this gospel which was preached to Israel first. The Gospel of according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, along with Acts bring this to full light.

In His wisdom, God brought about the salvation of the world through Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, but in His faithfulness God saw to it that the Gospel was first preached to the people of Israel and then to the Gentiles.

Paul tells us in Romans that the Gospel is “their sound” for the Gospel was testified of by Moses in their Law, and by their prophets. Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit of the Lord was giving witness to Christ and the Kingdom through Christ, who was yet to come.

God gave to the people of Israel Moses, the prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus in the flesh, the Apostles, and now the salvation of the Gentiles.

The Gospel is their testimony, their witness, their message, and if they reject the Gospel there is no other alternative. God does not have another narrative for Israel outside of or beyond the Gospel.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written (in their scriptures), How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. ~ Romans 10:11-21

In Galatians 5 the apostle Paul says, And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Circumcision here is a reference to Jewish supremacy. The Judaizers were attempting to undermine the gospel which Paul had ministered to the Galatians and were attempting to make Jewish converts of them.

This same thing had happened at Antioch in Acts 15. There were certain men who came down from Judaea and taught the brethren that unless they were circumcised after the manner of Moses, they could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas vehemently withstood them. Later the Apostles and elders along the church at Jerusalem held a meeting to resolve the issue. They came to the conclusion that the Gentiles were not obligated to be circumcised and come under the Law of Moses.

The issue of circumcision in the first century church wasn’t merely about “legalistic works” as we in the church today would refer to legalism. It was much more than that. It literally meant being converted to Judaism and becoming a Jew. It was for this purpose that the Apostle Paul was being persecuted by those who preached circumcision. Paul preached that the cross alone could save and being circumcised or not being circumcised no longer had any meaning with regards to covenant with God.

To put it another way, being a Jew or not being a Jew no longer had any bearing on who was God’s people and who wasn’t. God had abolished the separating wall between Jews and Gentiles in the death and resurrection of Jesus. God’s people are no longer of one ethic group in the flesh, but rather are people of every nationality united in one new man, in one body of believers, in Christ Jesus. What matters now is being a new creature in Christ Jesus.

The scriptures tells us that the gospel is to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The words, to the Jew first, is not a reference to importance but rather of sequence, as Paul declares in Acts 13:46, “It was necessary that the Word of God should FIRST have been spoken to you…”

In Acts 28 we read the following:

²³ And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

²⁴ And SOME BELIEVED the things which were spoken, and SOME BELIEVED NOT.

²⁵ And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

²⁶ Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE IS WAXED GROSS, and THEIR EARS ARE DULL OF HEARING, and THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

²⁸ Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that THEY WILL HEAR IT.

Paul is quoting from Isaiah 6:9-10, a passage which Jesus also quoted as the reason why he spoke in parables.

¹³ Therefore speak I to them in parables: BECAUSE THEY SEEING SEE NOT; AND HEARING THEY HEAR NOT, neither do they understand.

¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

¹⁵ For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. ~ Matthew 13:13-15

In John 9:35-41 Jesus heard that the man born blind, whom he had healed, had been cast out of the synagogue by the religious leaders.

When Jesus found him he said unto him: “Dost thou believe on the Son of God”? The man answered and said, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him”? Then Jesus said unto him, “You have both seen him, and it is He that talks with you.” The man then said: “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Jesus.

Then Jesus said, For JUDGMENT I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Some of the Pharisees which heard these words asked, “Are we blind also?”

Jesus then said to them, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, ‘WE SEE;’ therefore YOUR SIN REMAINETH.”

Notice, in this text above, Jesus says, for judgment, I have come into the world and specifically that judgment includes blinding those who claim to see yet cling to their sin.

John tells us the following in chapter 12:

³⁷ But though he had done so many miracles before them, YET THEY BELIEVED NOT ON HIM:

³⁸ That the saying of Esaias the prophet MIGHT BE FULFILLED, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and TO WHOM hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE, because that Esaias said again,

⁴⁰ HE HATH BLINDED THEIR EYES, AND HARDENED THEIR HEART; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

⁴¹ These things said Esaias,  WHEN HE SAW HIS GLORY, AND SPAKE OF HIM. ~ John 12:37-41

Through Jesus, God blinded them, hardening them in their disobedience by their refusal to believe in the Son of God. This fulfilled the words of Isaiah and Paul quotes this also in Romans 10 showing how they rejected the gospel which God set before them.

¹⁶ But they have not all OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Esaias saith, LORD, WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT? 

¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

¹⁸ But I say, HAVE THEY NOT HEARD? Yes verily, THEIR SOUND went into all the earth, and THEIR WORDS unto the ends of the world.

¹⁹ But I say, DID NOT ISRAEL KNOW ? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

²⁰ But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

²¹ But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto A DISOBEDIENT AND GAINSAYING PEOPLE. 

The Gospel is their own message: their words and their sound, as Paul says above in Romans 10, but they were disobedient and rejected it.

It is through this gospel that Israel – not the remnant – but, the rest, as Paul says in Romans 11, were hardened. They only way they will be saved is if they no longer abide in unbelief and obey the gospel.

In Acts 3:24 Peter told them: Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of THESE DAYS. 

In Acts 13:40 – 41, Paul preached to the Jews and said: Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work IN YOUR DAYS, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Jesus is the stone which the builders rejected, as foretold in their scripture. He is a rock of offence and a stone of stumbling to those who are disobedient to God’s Word of God.

⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be DISOBEDIENT, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

⁸ And STONE OF STUMBLING, and A ROCK OF OFFENCE, even to them which STUMBLE AT THE WORD, BEING DISOBEDIENT: WHERE UNTO ALSO THEY WERE APPOINTED. ~ 1 Peter 2:6-8

The Gospel is not only salvation to the obedient and believing, it is judgment to the disobedient and unbelieving.

Jesus was revealed to Israel in the writings of Moses and by the prophets. He was revealed to Israel by John the Baptist. He was revealed to Israel by the things Jesus said and by the works which God did through Him. He was revealed to Israel by the witness of His followers and the preaching of the apostles. Lastly He is revealed to Israel by the mercy that God has bestowed on the Gentiles.

The Gospel is freely offered to every Jew. Today is the day of salvation and any Jew who believes will be saved. God has no favorites and He will not treat those Jews who reject the Gospel of His Son, with any preferential treatment. There is no other “alternative” for the Jew apart from the Gospel. Those who reject Jesus Christ will be held accountable by the Gospel!

THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY MOSES:

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: THERE IS ONE THAT ACCUSES YOU, even MOSES, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me (John 5:44-46).

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people (Acts 3:22-23).

This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear (Acts 7:37).

THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE PROPHETS WHOM GOD SENT TO THEM:

But those things, which God before had shewed BY THE MOUTH OF ALL HIS PROPHETS, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. REPENT YE THEREFORE, AND BE CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by THE MOUTH OF ALL HIS HOLY PROPHETS since the world began For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and ALL THE PROPHETS from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of THE PROPHETS, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities (Acts 3:18-26).

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in THE PROPHETS; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you (Acts 13:40-41).

THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST:

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made MANIFEST TO ISRAEL, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and BARE RECORD THAT THIS IS THE SON OF GOD (John 1:30-34).

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, WE HAVE ABRAHAM TO OUR FATHER: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire (Matthew 3:8-10).

THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE WORDS AND WORKS OF JESUS:

He that REJECTS ME, and receives not MY WORDS, hath one that judges him: the word that I HAVE SPOKEN, the same shall judge him IN THE LAST DAY (John 12:48).

Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the WORKS of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe THE WORKS: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him (John 10: 36-38).

THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES:

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But IN EVERY NATION he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. THE WORD WHICH GOD SENT TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all):THAT WORD, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And WE ARE WITNESSES of all things which he did both IN THE LAND OF THE JEWS, AND IN JERUSALEM; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto WITNESSES chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins (Acts 10:34-43).

THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE SALVATION OF THE GENTILES:

As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (Romans 9:25-33).

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
(Romans 10:18-21).

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy (Romans 11:11).

It has been taught by some that the apostles who were personally discipled by Jesus did not understand the true spiritual meaning of the cross, but rather Paul was the one who had the spiritual revelation. Yet it was Jesus who personally opened His disciple’s understanding to the meaning of His death and resurrection from the writings of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms (Luke 24:44-48). Paul, who was later chosen, preached the very same message about Jesus’ death as did the apostles who walked with Jesus in the flesh (Acts 13:26-41, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

The difference in Paul’s gospel, was his understanding of the grace of God towards the Gentiles and specifically how the Jew and Gentile have become one new man in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s persecutors who opposed his message of the gospel were insisting the Gentiles become Jewish Converts to the Law of Moses. This would have meant identification with the Messiah was dependent on national status. Paul vehemently opposed such notions. Those who are in Christ are in Christ because of their faith which brings about a spiritual rebirth, which has nothing to do with national identity after the flesh. As N.T. Wright so eloquently puts it, It is based on grace not race.

Israel’s identity was defined by the Law of Moses which separated them from other nations. Paul believed that Christ had torn down this separating wall and now the people of God (Jews and Gentiles) were identified by their faith in Christ, rather than Jewish Law.

This is why many of the things which Paul writes about the cross are written within the context of the work of the Spirit in contrast to the Law. The work of the Spirit is not based on the Law, it is based on the finished work of Christ instead. According to Paul’s gospel, life in the Spirit through faith in Christ has taken precedence over serving under the law which was given to curve sin in the old creation (the old man in Adam).

Paul understood that not only had our sins been remitted, but that the old life of sin had been completely taken away. There is no longer any charges against those who are in Christ because they have been immersed (baptized) into the person and work of Christ by the Spirit.

Paul’s insight concerning the redemptive work of Christ had to do with his understanding of the work of the Spirit through the crucified and risen Messiah in bringing forth the new creation in the lives of both Jews and Gentiles.

Those who walk in faith, trusting the grace of God, are no longer condemned by the law, for they have died with the one who gave Himself as the sacrifice for their sins. Through the Spirit they are crucified, buried, and raised again to a new life with the Messiah who died for all so that all might live in Him.

The Law reveals man’s sinfulness, and for this reason, no one can be justified in the sight of God through the works of the Law. Only by the redemption that comes through the precious Blood of Jesus can our sins be completely removed. Redemption through the Blood of Christ doesn’t mean we are forgiven only, It is much more than that. Our redemption through the precious Blood of Jesus has purchased our freedom from our former union with Adam in whom we were dead in sin.

Christ is the last Adam and through our union with him we serve God in the newness of life by the Spirit of holiness through the resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation against us because we are immersed (baptized) into the person and work of Christ by the Spirit. Those who have believed (have faith in Jesus and continue to live by faith in Jesus) are no longer condemned by the law.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ~ Romans 8:1-4

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:33-34).

ENDORSEMENTS FOR PAUL

There are people however, especially in the Messianic Movement, who attempt to disqualify the Apostle Paul altogether. They are in serious error, not understanding the scriptures.

If you disqualify the Apostle Paul, by default, you disqualify the Apostle Peter. Peter endorsed Paul by referring to him as “our beloved brother” and described Paul’s letters as both “wisdom from God” and “scripture” (2 Peter 3:15-17).

If you disqualify Paul, and by default disqualify Peter, you have also disqualified Luke who authored 2 New Testament books – Luke and Acts.

In Acts, Luke highlights Peter and Paul’s ministry and gives a detailed account Paul’s conversion, personal commission by Jesus, and his being separated by the Holy Spirit for the work to which God had called him.

We also know from the Book of Acts that most if not all of the original Apostles were headquartered out of Jerusalem (ex Acts 8:1, 14, 25). In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem and were “received” by the church, and by THE APOSTLES, and by the elders.

James and Peter were among the Apostles who received Paul and Barnabas when they arrived at Jerusalem.

Luke tells us how men like James and Barnabas were also co ministers in the gospel with Paul and Luke himself was also a dear friend and fellow laborer with the Apostle Paul in the work of the ministry (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11). Luke, at times, also uses the pronoun “We” from the vantage point of the narrator, indicating that he was as an eyewitness of Paul’s ministry as recorded in the Book of Acts. Also throughout Acts, Luke tells us that Paul preached “the Word of God” and repeatedly tells us of brethren who were blessed by Paul and blessed Paul as well. Luke also tells us in his Gospel (the Gospel According to Luke) how Peter, who endorsed Paul, was chosen and ordained by Jesus to be an Apostle.

Those who disqualify Paul, by default, do the same to men like Peter, Luke, James, Barnabas, and other servants of Christ throughout scripture; and ultimately they reject Jesus according the New Testament revelation.

PAUL’S GOSPEL – THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST

The Apostle Paul was a brilliant scholar in the Old Testament scriptures before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. After coming to Christ and seeing Jesus in the Old Testament scriptures everything changed. Paul then considered his previous achievements and his knowledge of scripture after the flesh as worthless. He says so in Philippians 3. However, through the scriptural knowledge which Paul possessed, the Holy Spirit made known to Paul the revelation of Jesus Christ which had previously been hidden in a mystery.

The New Testament, much of which was written by Paul, is the only portion of scripture which reveals WHO the Messiah is. The Old foreshadowed and prophesied of His coming but only the New reveals His identity. Paul was anointed specifically by God as an apostle to the Gentiles, and through Paul’s knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures, the Holy Spirit opened Paul’s understanding to see the “mystery of Christ” even as Jesus had opened the original apostles understanding in Luke 24. Paul along with the other New Testament writers are the authoritative interpreters of the Old Testament scriptures. They interpret the Old in view of Christ and to interpret them in any other way is to interpret scripture after the flesh.

The revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of Christ which was concealed in the Old Testament scriptures is revealed and brought to full light in the writings of the New. The New Testament authors were moved by the Spirit to reveal Jesus to us. Therefore we should interpret the Old in view of the revelation given to the authors who gave us the New. There is no other foundation to build on other that Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Furthermore we need to recognize the uniqueness of the callings of the various authors who gave us the New Testament scriptures under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. For instance, the apostle John doesn’t expound on the Kingdom in the way the synoptic Gospels do (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). John says very little about the Kingdom. Instead, John emphasizes being born of God or born again in a way which the other Gospel writers do not.

Paul’s writings are unique in that Paul was specifically called as an apostle to the Gentiles. In one place Paul refers to his calling by saying “I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” Paul was anointed to teach us Gentiles about the truth in Christ and that is why his writings are so dear to us.

Paul is the only writer in all of scripture who explains that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law. Paul is the only writer in all of scripture that gives us the concept of the body of Christ (the body of believers in Jesus). There are references to unity elsewhere but only Paul expounds on how Jews and Gentiles have become one body in Christ.

Also, there is no other writer who explains how the gifts of the Spirit actually work. We see these gifts at work all throughout the scriptures, but only Paul breaks it down to explain how God causes these to work within the body of Christ.

Also, Paul is the only writer who gives us some sort of guidelines to follow for church structure, who is qualified as leaders, and how we are to run the local church assemblies.

We should not exalt Paul, we should exalt Jesus, yet we ought to recognize the unique calling which Jesus placed on Paul and receive the things which Paul gave us as coming from Christ, for these things did not originate with Paul but with Christ who both called and anointed Paul. When we open our hearts to see Christ, the revelation given to Paul will enlighten us to truths “in Christ” which are concealed in the reading of the Old Testament after the flesh.

As already stated, the only place in all of SCRIPTURE that reveals the IDENTITY of the Messiah and redemption from the curse of the Law is the NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES. Throw out the New Testament and the writings of Paul and there is no redemption from the curse of the law for you and I. NONE!

The New Testament is authoritative in expounding the Old Testament scriptures. Only the New Testament reveals how God’s promise to Abraham plays out and is fulfilled through the death and resurrection of the Messiah.

Without the New Testament, you would not know that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament scriptures and you would not know what scriptures truly were Messianic and which were not. You would not comprehend why the Messiah had to die and rise again because that was hidden in the Old Testament scriptures until Jesus and the New Testament writers revealed it.

Furthermore, you would not know “how” the Messiah fulfilled those scriptures which foretold of His coming without the New Testament.

The death and resurrection of Jesus was the culmination of the story of Israel under the law. As the King of Israel, Jesus died on the cross to redeem us from the curse of the Law so that the promise which God made to Abraham (to bless all the families of the earth) would be fulfilled through His resurrection. God’s plan was never to have a people from just one nation who would serve Him. God’s plan was never a Hebraic people only. God’s plan was to have a family which would include people from every nation. The story of Israel is the narrative of how God accomplished his promise to Abraham to make him the father of many nations by justifying, not only the believing Jews, but believing Gentiles as well.

And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear THE WORD OF GOD. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and SPOKE AGAINST THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN BY PAUL, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that THE WORD OF GOD should first have been spoken to you: but SEEING YE PUT IT FROM YOU, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I HAVE SET THEE TO BE A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES, THAT THOU SHOULDEST BE FOR SALVATION UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and GLORIFIED THE WORD OF THE LORD: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And THE WORD OF THE LORD was published throughout all the region (Acts 13:44-49).

Paul’s gospel is the “Word of the Lord”.

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7).

This is a reference to Jesus. The volume of the book refers to the entirety of the old testament scriptures which testify of Jesus. In the volume of the book it is written of Him.

At the beginning of this verse he says, “then said I.” This is a response to what has been said in the previous verses concerning God not desiring those sacrifices which were offered by the Law.

Now consider this: according to the testimony of the Law, God never desired those sacrifices upon which the law covenant was ratified and renewed year by year.

There are some who have claimed that the new covenant is actually the renewed covenant. This is not correct. The new covenant is an entirely new covenant, better and superior to the first.

Now, there was a renewing of the Law Covenant every year on the Day of Atonement. The reason the law covenant had to be renewed is because it’s representatives were imperfect and it’s sacrifices could not take away sin. Every year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest had to first offer sacrifices for his own sins and the sins of the priesthood, before he could make sacrifice for the people.

Jesus, however, is our perfect representative. He does not need to offer sacrifice ever year for himself and for us. He offered himself once and for all and has put away sin because he is perfect and holy.

Jesus is perfected forever for us as our great high priest, and by his blood, he has put away sin in the presence of God once for all. God is so eternally pleased with Jesus that there will never again be the necessity of another representative, that is, a high priest to offer sacrifice for sin.

The first Covenant could not give this. It had to be renewed every year and as long as that system was in place there is a remembrance of sins again year after year. Yet in his mercy and grace, God so ordained that the first Covenant be set up in such a way that it would foreshadow the one to come, that is, the one in Christ.

Those things which were only a shadow were never the things which God desired. Jesus, on the other hand, pleases God in every respect. He is unblemished and holy in every respect and he fulfilled God’s will perfectly and completely.

It is not merely that he is holy because he never sinned. Rather, he never sinned because he is holy!

He did the will of God, not against his own will as one forced to serve, but as the expression of his own will, for it was his continuous delight to please the Father in everything. Jesus did the will of God from the heart because God’s will was his will and this is what God had always desired. This is what made Jesus the perfect representative to take away our sins.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:5-10).

At the beginning of Acts 15 there were certain men which came down from Judaea to Antioch and taught the Gentile brethren that if they were not circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saved. This did not set well with Paul and Barnabas who vehemently disagreed with them. Therefore the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas along with some local believers to Jerusalem to discuss this issue with the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

When they arrived in Jerusalem Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything God had done through them among the Gentiles. However, some from a certain sect of the Pharisees protested in opposition to the testimony of Paul and Barnabas; claiming that it was indeed needful to circumcise the Gentiles and command them to keep the Law of Moses. Therefore the apostles and elders decided to meet together to resolve this issue.

During the meeting, Peter stood up and testified saying the following:

Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, GIVING THEM THE HOLY GHOST, EVEN AS HE DID UNTO US; And put NO DIFFERENCE between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore WHY TEMPT GOD, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:7-11)

Notice that Peter doesn’t say, “they shall be saved even as we.” Instead Peter says, “we shall be saved even as they.”

In the mind of the first century Jew, covenant relationship with God was dependent on Jewish membership and circumcision and allegiance to the Law of Moses.

However, God had done something so unexpectedly different and entirely new when he sent Peter to Cornelius’ house. He had called out a people from among the Gentiles for his Name and he had done it apart from the Law.

In Acts 15: 7-11 (cited above) Peter recounts his visit to Cornelius’ house (Acts 10). Peter along with the other Jews who accompanied him saw firsthand the salvation of Gentiles as Cornelius and his house were instantly filled with the Holy Spirit in similar fashion as the Jewish followers of Jesus had experienced in Acts 2.

When Peter returned to Jerusalem he was confronted by the Jews for lodging at the home of Gentiles and eating with them.

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. (Acts 11:2-3)

Peter then rehearsed to the Jews his experience from the beginning (Acts 11:4- 17). Notice the following from Peter’s explanation to Jews in verses 15-17:

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? (Acts 11:15-17)

Then in verse 18, the scripture says:

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

The evidence which convinced Peter and the Jewish believers at Jerusalem that the Gentiles had been accepted as the people of God, was the Holy Spirit. God had given to the Gentiles the same gift he had been given to the Jews at Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit had now become the new identity of the people of God replacing the old identity of physical circumcision.

This is the experience which Peter is recalling in Acts 15.

After Peter gave his testimony, Barnabas and Paul testified of the miracles and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by their ministry. After Barnabas and Paul testified, James stood up and said the following:

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:14-18)

The apostle James makes appeal to a prophecy given by Amos concerning the rebuilding of the tabernacle of David, as the scriptural evidence that God would have a people apart from the Law of Moses.

The tabernacle of David can either be a reference to the tent that David pitched for the ark of the covenant after the ark was recovered, or a reference to the Kingdom under David’s descendant who is to reign forever: the Messiah.  The latter seems to be the most likely as this theme appears multiple times throughout the book of Acts.

In Acts 15:16 -17, the apostle James makes reference to this prophecy specifically and applies it to the Gentiles becoming the people of God apart from the Law.

James goes on to say: Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.

It was therefore determined, based on the testimony of Peter, Paul, and Barnabas; along with James’ interpretation of the scriptures, that the Gentiles were not obligated to come under the yoke of the Law of Moses.

Furthermore, it might be worth mentioning that it was the apostle James, and not Paul, who made the final decision to inform the Gentiles that they were under no obligation to be circumcised and to keep the Law of Moses. James says; “Wherefore my sentence is…” (Acts 15:19).

Afterwards we read, “then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church…” (Acts 15:22).

They then sent the following letter to the Gentile believers at Antioch:

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY GHOST, AND TO US, to lay upon you no greater burden than the necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (Acts 15:24-29)

The council at Jerusalem – the apostles, the elders, and the church – came to the conclusion that if they required the Gentiles to keep the Law of Moses after God had established his name among the Gentiles, they would most certainly be in opposition to the work of God.

The testimony of God had already been established by the gift of the Holy Ghost being given to the Gentiles, and the Jerusalem council decided to agree with God. Therefore they said, “it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us.” They were persuaded by the Holy Ghost and agreed!

Once this letter was delivered to the Gentile believers at Antioch, and read, the Bible says: “THEY REJOICED.” (Acts 15:30-31)